DARDANELLE — Despite the severe thunderstorms that came through the Arkansas River Valley on Friday night, the Dardanelle High School marching band entertained the Sand Lizards crowd before the first home football game of the season Friday night at Keenan Field.

The 118-member band kicked off the game with a show that consisted of a sequence of non-stop songs after the visiting band for the Mayflower Eagles played its alma mater.

Then, the DHS band played the alma mater, followed by the fight song and several other songs until the Sand Lizards ran through the big D the band formed on the field and exited the field before returning for the kickoff.

Band director Clay Hooten said this year’s band is the largest in DHS history and huge for Dardanelle.

“There are definitely challenges working with a marching band of this size,” Hooten said. “The kids are doing multiple skills simultaneously. It’s a lot to ask of them, and I’m always proud to watch the students progress throughout the season.”

DHS junior saxophone player Lawton Davidson, a third-year member of the marching band, said the thrill of performing combined with the satisfaction of a job well done is the reason he continues to push himself in band each year.

“It gives me goosebumps to march in front of the crowd,” Davidson said of performing at halftime. “We’re the pride of Yell County. The crowd really gets into it with us and I just have a really great time.”

Davidson didn’t get the opportunity to feel goosebumps Friday night, however. For the second week in a row, the halftime show was rained out.

Hooten said the band needs the halftime show to perfect its performance before competition in October. The marching band travels to away games also, which allows for practice time, performing experience and the ability to add new elements each week.

Marching band members memorize their music, which changes some each week. They march while playing their instruments and march in different formations.

Hooten said the first performance of the season is nerve-wracking for everyone, including him, but especially for the ninth-graders who are marching on the senior high level for the first time.

He said during freshman band orientation, he tells students they should be scared a little bit, but with practice, everything will come together.

The highlight Friday night would have been the introduction of the drumbone, an instrument the band made especially for the halftime show as part of this year’s final show, “Blue Man.”

As the weeks progress, the band will add music and special effects. The final performance will be approximately nine minutes long and without giving too much away, Hooten said the crowd should expect more than just a marching routine, but instead be prepared for a highly technical show-stopping performance.

“To the crowd the band is entertainment,” Hooten said. “And we’re glad to be there and be part of the game and elevate the excitement level. The halftime performance for us is an evaluation and the time for us to work out any kinks, so that we will be prepared for competition in October.”